Too Cute To Correct & Too Gross Not To

We were talking about sacraments.  Jude claims that he remembers Esme's BATHtism.  He later told Glen that his First Constipation was this weekend.  I am sure the second gaff was due to the laughs from the first but oh how I hope he does not repeat it this weekend! 

Old Mother Hubbard

It's bad when your kids ask you to go grocery shopping...soon...please.....

I would have taken pictures of the emptyish cupboards as well - but if I had that much time I should have gone grocery shopping.

And Therese would like me to point out...Behind the milk? More milk. Behind the yogurt? More yogurt. People who like yogurt? ...Can't have it (except mom - I'm fine food wise!) We're not hiding anything here folks....nothing to hide.

At least my 13 gallon freezer is full of meat. Although that won't help much tomorrow, since we don't eat meat on Friday's.

Grocery shopping with a baby who has a cold? Preferably not....Leave him home with others?...He just wants his momma when he's sick.

Local grocery delivery service?...I'll be ordering online tonight. You are so appreciated. We will have groceries tomorrow!

Incidentally, the very first time I ordered? The delivery man came to the door with buckets and buckets of groceries...to which my Nathan exclaimed, "Thank you for coming, you've saved our lives!" Yeah, as I'm standing there in the middle of the school day with five kids and a newborn - thanks Nate! (I tend not to pay for grocery delivery unless I am really in need......)

And...I think I will go point out to my kids, who are getting the table ready for a dinner of roast beef, homemade bread, mashed potatoes, and leftover vegies,..........We should be thankful for what we have.

To some, the food we have in the frig and pantry is more than they've had in a long time.

Disgruntled with www.snopes.com

I have often looked up things on www.snopes.com to see if they are correct or not. Recently, I have been seeing that in matters of faith, medicine, environment and evolution the website (or I should say the authors of the site) have a lot of things just plain wrong.  Who is behind Snopes anyhow?  So, while I will look to them to confirm the Amber Alert emails and various other simple things; they are not the ones to turn to for "facts," as more and more their facts are simply one person's opinion. But that is just my opinion.... 

The manual or the child tip #1 for saving time.

We needed to set our camcorder to record in LP mode (we have hatching ducks and don't want to miss anything).

I couldn't remember how to change the setting. I couldn't find the manual. I looked it up online. Nathan was looking over my shoulder and then disappeared, I thought he was bored. As I was trying to decipher the directions I hear Henry from the other room, "Mom, Nathan figured it out - it's ready to go!".

I should have saved myself some work and handed it to him to begin with.

The reason I don't schedule floor washings...

About every 2 weeks we experience a major spill, one so big it requires an entire floor washing to clean it up. Today? Orange juice - twice.

If you are reading this blog...

... then you should know that we often post a few items at a time, so don't stop with the top post keep reading!

WOW! This brings jumping rope to a whole new level!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2WK44cH2J0

What did you think? 

What do the contents of your pockets say about you?

A lot of days I can tell what happened that day by what I empty out of my pockets at the days end.  Saturday I had a few used dryer sheets, a rock and three little green Army guys.   The day was spent doing and folding laundry, working on the firepit that is going up in the backyard, and I picked up the Army guys while solving a fight between the four boys.  Sunday pocket collection: a bookmark because I finished my book, a hairbow that Esme pulled out in Church and threw at the guy in front of us and a pen because I wrote a real snail mail note. Today was spent on the yard and garden.  This far my pockets have scissors, plant velcro, three rocks, a doggie treat, a trash bag and a pair of garden gloves that I could not find so I did not wear.  

What is in your pockets? 

Lap Books

I've recently discovered the wonders of lapbooks. My 1st grader made one based on How To Make an Apple Pie and See the World. He is currently working on one about ducks (including pictures of the duck, eggs, food, etc. from our yard). My 4th grader is working on one about Thomas Edison.

The benefits I am seeing?

1. My kids are becoming "experts" in those areas.
2. They have something to show people that they are proud of.
3. We have one place to "store" all the pictures that they make. We have pictures hanging on our wall from the Middle Ages studies we did a few months ago. It would be really neat if they could go in a folder (some are too big - maybe I'll copy portions of the big poster).
4. They love to keep looking over their books - they are remembering what they learned.

I'll try to post a picture of one of them in the next week or so.

Daily Mass - Or semi-weekly Mass?

We started going to daily Mass on Wednesdays during Lent and the kids have asked to keep it up, yeah! We went to a different church yesterday. It was an all school Mass where my nephews attend school. The kids liked the music (the choir and band play). And, another benefit I hadn't thought about until we were there is that the homily is directed at school aged kids! Everything went well, I FINALLY didn't have to leave with a loud baby. But, he did wet completely through his clothes just before Holy Communion! I quickly took all his clothes off (or I would have gotten soaking wet), put his little jacket on, grabbed a diaper and a blanket, and walked up to receive Communion. Unfortunately this 15 month old all-boy had to wear his cousins flower pants home since I was in such a rush to get to Mass I forgot that I had already used the spare clothes I put in for him last week. He truly didn't care - but his brothers were distraught.

1. The kids have gotten into the routine of Wed. am Mass and don't want to miss it.
2. The baby is learning to sit quietly through Mass.
3. Although I am not into a "concert" at Mass, if it makes my younger ones excited to go to the daily Mass instead of crying all the way there - I'm all for it.
4. School Mass is good for the kid directed homily.
5. Get back into the habit of packing new clothes in the diaper bag immediately after getting home after using the spare.
6. Even though my kids are quiet, I still cannot be completely focused on the Mass. I was so intent on praying that I hadn't noticed my 3 year old "boogying" in the pew during one of the songs. Oh well.

Tee hee

This background is not my style.  But in an effort to get RealMom4Life to change it from the frumpy khaki one that we had, I changed it.  Let's see how long it takes for her to be driven nutty by the glassy eyed chicks.  Too bad that they do not sing or dance or something.  That would really drive her nutty-er.  *wink* 

On a more serious note...

When did my parents get old?  They drove here to see us for a few days.  They are in their seventies, but have always claimed to be in their forties.  For a long time, it seemed that they were ageless but not this time.  Everyone seems to be moving slow and needing lots of sleep.  I imagine that they are going to go home and need a vacation from their vacation. 

Can you help me figure this one out?

How is it that my boys struggle with spelling and multiplication tables but can effortlessly memorize entire Calvin and Hobbes books and Star Wars movies?  

Getting your hubby and kids to help with errands...

... is easy!  Here are my secrets.  

Wednesday is Special Night Out around here.  Every Wednesday Prince Charming tries to get home so that we can have dinner by 6:00.  Right after dinner, Prince Charming takes one of the kids to run errands for me and then out for ice cream.  We rotate through the kiddos.  The children really look forward to having time alone with Dad and I get a few errands run without having to drag everyone with me.  Oh and the kiddo does not have to help with dinner clean up so everyone wins. 

However, a lot of times the whole crew has to go with me.  In these cases, I find that when my kids are informed, they act better.  "We are going to go to the bank, the grocery store for cereal, bread and milk, then to the library and the post office. Then home to have beef stroganoff for dinner."  As far as the dilly dallying goes, I am a softy.  Does it matter if we take five minutes to stomp in puddles?  Maybe.  But once again, for my kids information is key here.  "Guys, there are cars here.  It is not safe to run in the puddles.  But once we finish the post office I will stop at the park to find some puddles." or we can stomp in the puddles at home or whatever.  But whatever you tell them, you have to stick to.  No squeezing in one more thing because they are being so good. 

 

Eyelash Hypotrichosis

I was at the dermatologists office the other day for Logan's appointment when I saw a pamphlet for those suffering from this condition! Eyelash Hypotrichosis simply means inadequate or not enough eyelashes. Now, I am seriously lacking in the eyelash department myself (in fact some of my kiddos must have Eyelash Hypertrichosis because theirs are always getting in the way of sunglasses and falling out in such great numbers that I would like to glue them on my eyelids - but that is another story). Who decides someone's eyelash count is inadequate? Maybe the people that made the GEA (Global Eyelash Assessment) Scale. I am totally not kidding here. It is on the pamphlet.

If someone reading this truly has problems due to inadequate eyelashes I do apologize. Guess it's just my lack of understanding this situation.

But no one will see mine anyway this summer. Today I bought a nice pair of sunglasses because I suffer from what I will call I KNOW IT'S DAYTIME AND I AM NOT EVEN TIRED BUT MY EYES KEEP FALLING ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING syndrom in which I fall asleep at the wheel when I don't have a pair of really good sunglasses on.

So, as I was suffering over this huge decision, because they weren't cheap and will NOT be lost again, I finally realized something. The rather large pair that the optometrist picked out for me when I first asked for help, the pair I nicely put in the NO WAY pile immediately- really ended up being the best pair for my eyes. I looked at my son Henry and realized, I have a husband and seven kids, who am I trying to impress? And besides, they do a great job of hiding my eyelash hypotrichosis.

You simply must....

.... go to You Tube and search for Susan Boyle.  She appeared on Britain's Got Talent.  The clip has gotten 3,000,000 hits in two days. Do it right now. 

What did you think? 

Spy Gear

What does it mean when you have spy gear suspiciously placed all over the house?

You have boys.

I can finally tell (after a brief lesson from my girls) the difference between the spy gear alarms, the basement water alarms, and the carbon monoxide alarm. I no longer go running to the basement when an alarm goes off. In fact, now that I understand the alarm system, I kind of get a kick out of finding alarm sensors all over my house.

SAHM just does not cut it.

Have you heard the term SAHM?  It is an acronym for Stay At Home Mom.  But it just does not cover it.  Instead I think that I am going to refer to myself as SAHBOOHBFCSPTBBKLMFFFKCCANTMCMCTM.  Did you catch that? It means Sometimes At Home But Often Out, Homeschooling, Breast Feeding, Co-Sleeping, Picture Taking, Boo Boo Kissing, List Making, Frugal, Fun, Frumpy, Kinda Crazy, Crunchy, All Natural and Tired Mom, Chef, Maid, Chauffer, and Toy Mechanic.  

What is your new title going to be? 

This hardly seems fair...

Two hours of cooking and it takes them 15 minutes to eat it. 

My feet are restless, mom, until they rest on thee

I co-sleep with my youngest, and if he could talk I am sure this is what he would say.

Grocery shopping made easy

Have you discovered online shopping?  If not, you should look into it. Many grocery stores now offer online shopping and delivery.  Some other stores will not deliver but will shop for you and then you just pull in and pick it up.  There is usually a fee but I find that my sanity (a.k.a. not having to take a two hour trip to the store with 5 kids) is worth it.  And I really like shopping at 12 midnight in my pajamas.  

The store that I shop at also allows me to store up to a dozen lists.  I have three months of rotating menus.  Thus, I can pull up my month #3 list, run down the list of items, check what I need, and then click "add to cart" and ta da!  The bulk of the grocery shopping for that month is complete.  The next day the groceries are delivered.  Simple as that! I still find that I need to run to the store for produce and staples but the bulk of my shopping is eliminated.  

I've named my kids.

Anna, Nathan, Therese, Henry, Wyatt, Elizabeth, Logan. These will be their names and I'm sticking to it.

Hello

I'm feeling quite compelled to introduce myself now that my best friend, Crunchy Momma, has begun. The pressure is on. Yes, I live 1,000 miles away from Crunchy Momma but I feel like she still lives just a few miles away. My kids? Well, maybe I shouldn't rename them. That may prove too challenging. Crunchy Momma and her husband always had her kiddos named before anyone knew she was pregnant. My husband and I, on the other hand, named them just before leaving the hospital. So, while we are incredibly similar in many ways, we are also quite different, mostly in ways that really don't matter much. So here it goes....nope...still cannot think of anything. I'll have to get back to you. For me, that means I need to go write it down in my organizer right now or it will never get done. I'm off to play with my little princess right now.

Let the blogging begin!

Hi! Welcome to our little corner of cyber space. Come in, make yourself at home. I hope that in reading this blog you will find something that will make your life easier.

For those of you that know me in real life, you will note that my and my kids names are not quite the same. If you look close you can figure out my secret. But rest assure that I am still the same crazy, crunchy momma. I have five kiddos. "Ian" (11), "Glenn" (9), "Sebastian" (7), "Jack" (5) and "Esme" (2).

It was kind of fun to rename the kids. I have always had a thing for naming things - stuffed animals, cars, plants - everything in my world has a name. Now please excuse me while I go water Cholor, Phot, Syn, and Basil (a.k.a. the plants).

All the best,

"Laurel"

Crunchy Momma